Airplane landing field and remote control means therefor



Feb. 24, 1931. Y. NABONA ET AL AIRPLANE LANDING FIELD AND REMOTE CONTROL MEANS THEREFOR Filed April 12 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS YOSM/TE A/AaoIvA and w; C/m mm M ,5

7 ATTORW m Q R Feb. 24, 1931. Y. NABQNA ET AL 1,793,744

AIRPLANE LANDING FIELD AND REMOTE CONTROL MEANS THEREFOR 4 S eets-Sheet Filed April 12, 1930 2 INVENTORS fasmrs lVABa/l/A and WILLIAM B. CHAPMAN ATTORNEY Feb. 24, 1931. Y. NABONA ET AL 1,793,744

AIRPLANE LANDING FIELD AND REMOTE CONTROL MEANS THEREFOR Filed April 12.. 1930 4 Sheets-sheaf 5 INVENTORS YoS/vuTE ll/ABn/VA a/hcl W LL/AN 3. CHAPMAN Feb. 24, 1931. Y. ,NABONA ET AL 1,793,744

AIRPLANE LANDING FIELD AND REMOTE CONTROL MEANS THEREFOR Filed April 12, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 WILLIAM B. CHAPMAN a, @2846 ATT Patented Feb. 24, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" YOSMI'I'E NABONA AND WILLIAM B. CHAPMAN, OF EL PASO COUNTY, COLORADO AIRPLANE LANDING FIELD AND REMOTE CONTROL MEANS THEREFOR Application filed April 12 Our invention relates to landing platforms for the airplanes and our objects are to provide a rotatable platform device which can be located on the roof of a building or other substructure; to provide a remote control apparatus which can be located on a nearby building or other structure; to provide means whereby the remote control apparatus can be operated automatically or manually; to provide a series of electro-magnets on said rotatable platform; to provide a device carrying a shoe, having magnetic properties, to coact with said electro-magnets, said shoe device having facilities whereby it maybe attached.

to the fuselage of an airplane. Other objects will appear as the description progresses.

Figure 1 represents an elevation of the devices showing an airplane landed on the platform; Fig. 2, a sectional plan view on the line 2-2 in Fig. 3; Fig. 3, a sectional elevation of the device on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a fragmentary sectional plan view on the line 1-4 in Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a fragmentary plan View showing the position of the poles of the electro-magnets; Fig. 6, a side view of the device carrying the shoe 52; Fig. 7, a side view; Fig. 8, a plan view, parts of the shoe being broken away; and Fig. 9, a sectional elevation and plan view conduit 60 and brush assembly.

Although we show the preferred embodiment of our invention, we do not thereby limit ourselves to the precise form shown, but wish it understood that, within the scope ofiwhat hereinafter is claimed, various changes in-the details-of construction may be made without departing from-the spirit of the invention.

A circular track 1 is laid on a floor 2 sup ported by a substructure 3. Flanged wheels -1 run upon track 1 and are journalle'd on uprights 5 depending from a rectangular frame 6. A bevel ring gear 7 is secured to the underside of frame 6 and meshed with a bevel gear 8 mounted on a horizontal shaft 9 which is ournalled in standardslO. A pulley 11 is mounted on shaft 9 and connected to a motor pulley 12 by a belt 13.

The landing platform comprises stringers 15 supported by frame 6, boards 16 secured 1930. Serial No. 443,762.

to stringers 15, and a mat 17 laid over boards A plurality of multi-polar electro-magnets 18 are. mounted in said platform so that the poles extend upward flush with the tops of boards 16.

A circular housing 19 is disposed on floor 2 concentric with circular track 1, and encloses a plurality of single pole electro-magnets A, B, C, D, E, F, G, and H arranged in acircle concentric withtrack 1.

A series of lugs 20 depend from the top of housing 19, each lug being adjacent to an electro-magnet. A lever 20a is pivoted to each lug 20 and disposed so that one arm extends across the pole of the adjacent elec-' tro-magnet and the other supports a pin 20?) which is slidably disposed in a perforation in the top of housing 19.

A shaft 21 is mounted vertically in a base 22 located at a distance from the landing platform, as for example, on an adjacent building. An annular ring 23 is disposed on base 22 concentric with shaft 21.

Segmental plates a, 72,0, 0?, e, f, g, and h, separated by insulation 25, are disposed in a circle surrounding ring 23 and mounted on base 22, this base being provided with insulation 26. A housing 27 is rotatably mounted on shaft 21 and carries a vane 28. Insulation 29 is secured to housing 27 and carries a two pronged brush 30 which contracts with annular ring 23 and segmental plates at, Z), c, d, u e, f, g, and 7t. As shown diagramatcially in Fig 2, electro-magnets A, B, C, D, E, F, G,

and H are connected, respectively, to segmental plates at, b, c, d, e, f, g, and h, by wires A1, 131,01, D1, E1, F1, G1, and H1. \Vires A2, B2, C2, D2, E2, F2, G2, and H2, connect wire K with electro-magnets A, B. C, D, E,

F, G, and H, respectively. Wires K and L lead to a source of electric current, as a generator G, wire L being connected to annular ring 23. The electro-magnets 18 are connected in series by wire M which leads to asource of electric current as a generator G. A switch S is interposed in wire M and may be located conveniently for the operator.

Rings 3031 are secured adjacent to insulation 32 which is secured to brackets 33, 10a

bolted or riveted to frame 6. A horizontally swinging arm 34 is pivoted on terminal 35 which is connected to ring 31, and terminal 36 is connected to ring 30. A cylinder 40 is secured to stringer 15 by loop 41. A piston rod 42 is connected to insulation 39 on arm 34 and extends into cylinder 40. A piston 43 is mounted on the end of piston rod 42 within cylinder 40, and an open spring 44 is disposed about piston rod 42 adjacent to piston 43.

Brushes 4546 are mounted on insulation 47 and contact with rings 30-31, respectively. Wires 4849 lead from brushes 4546, respectively, to the motor.

A device is attached to the fuselage 51 of an airplane, said device comprising a bracket a shoe 52 secured to the bottom of said bracket; a shaft 53 mounted in lugs 54 on bracket 50; and a yoke 55 keyed on shaft 53 and carrying a wheel 56. A lever 57 is keyed on shaft 53 and connected to a lever 58 on the fuselage 51, by a rod 59.

The vane 28 being operated by the wind, swings the housing about the shaft 21 and moves the brush 30 over the segmental plates a, b, a, d, e, f, g, and h, and ring 23.

If we assume that brush 30 is in contact with plate 9 at the time the switch R is closed, the electric current passes through ring 23, segmental plate 9, wire G1, the coil in electro-magnet Gr, wire G2 and wire K to the generator. The electric current energizes the electro-magnet G which attracts the adjacent lever 20a and lifts a pin 20?) above the top of housing 19 and into the path of arm 34. When the motor P is started, the pulley 12 drives thebelt 13 whichturns the pulley 11 and actuates the gear 8 which en gages the ring gear 7 and rotates the frame 6. When the arm 34 strikes raised pin 20?) the action breaks the circuit between arm 34 and terminal 36, thereby stopping the motor and causing the frame 6 to stop. The position of the landing platform at this point is parallel to the direction of the wind. The airplane, carrying the device which is provided with shoe 52, alights on the landing platform against the wind and therefore longitudinally of the platform. Before the airplane lands the pilot gives a signal and the landing field attendant closes the switch S and permits the electric current to energize to magnets 18. As the shoe 52 is drawn across the poles of the'magnets 18, it is attracted thereby and gradually slows down the airplane until it comes to rest, which is accomplished before the shoe 52 has traveled the full length of the platform. If the remote control apparatus becomes outof order, the attendant may control the position of the landing platform, by cutting off the power when the platform assumes the proper position relative to the wind. This is done by I opening the switch R.

A stationary platform 70 surrounds the rotatable platform and is for the purpose of providing parking space for airplanes.

A vertically disposed conduit 60 is secured to frame 6 concentrically with housing 19 and provided with brushes 6162 secured to lugs 6364, respectively. Two ring terminals 6566 are disposed concentrically with housing 19 and mounted on insulation 67 so that brushes 6162 contact with ring terminals 6566, respectively. A wire M is connected to brush 61 and leads to switch S. A wire M is connected to brush 62 and leads to wire C2.

A catapult or other launching means may be mounted on platforms 17 or 70.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1

1. In an airplane landing field, the combination of a floor adapted to be mounted on a substructure; a circular track laid on said floor; a horizontal frame, provided with uprights, disposed above said track; flanged wheels mounted on said uprights and disposed so as to run on said track; a horizontally disposed bevel ring gear secured to the underside of said frame; a pair of standards on said floor; a horizontally disposed shaft journalled in said standards and carrying a bevel gear meshed with said ring gear; a pulley mounted on said shaft; a motor: a belt mounted on said pulley and the pulley of said motor; a platform superimposed on said frame; a series of vertically disposed electro-magnets mounted in said platform with their poles upward; a wire from said electro-magnets leading to a source of electric current.

2. In an airplane landing field. the combination of a floor adapted to be mounted on a substructure; a circular track laid on said floor; a horizontal frame, provided with uprights, disposed above said track; flanged wheels mounted on said uprights and disposed so as to run on said track; a horizontally disposed bevel ring gear secured to the underside of said frame; a pair of standards on said floor; a horizontally disposed shaft journalled in said standards and carrying a bevel gear meshed with said ring gear; a pulley mounted on said shaft; a motor: a belt mounted on said pulley and the pulley of said motor; a platform superimposed on said frame; a series of vertically disposed electro-magnets mounted in said platform with their poles upward; a wire from said electro-magnets leading to a source of electric current; a mat covering the poles of said magnets.

3. In an airplane landing field, the combination of 31.1 1001 adapted to be mounted on a substructure; a circular track laid on said floor; a horizontal frame, provided with uprights, disposed above said track; flanged wheels mounted on said uprights and disposed so as to run on said track; a horizontally disposed bevel ring gear secured to the underside of said frame; a pair of standards on said floor; a horizontally disposed shaft journalled in said standards and carrying a bevel gear meshed with said ring gear; a pair of concentric annular rings mounted on the underside of said frame. each ring being provided with a vertically disposed terminal: a contact arm pivoted on one of said terminals and adapted to contact with the other terminal; a pair of brushes mounted below said concentric annular rings. onebrush contacting with the. inside, and one with the outside ring; a wire connecting each brush with a source of electric current.

4. In an airplane landing field, the combination of a floor adapted to be mounted on a substructure; a circular track laid on said floor; a horizontal frame, provided with uprights, disposed above said track; flanged wheels mounted on said uprights anddisposed so as to run on said track: a horizontally disposed bevel ring gear secured to the underside of said frame: a pair of standards on said floor; a horizontallv disposed shaft journalled in said standards and carrying a bevel gear meshed with said ring gear; a pair of concentric annular rings mounted on the underside of said frame, each ring being provided with a vertically disposed terminal; a contact arm pivoted on one of said terminals and adapted to contact with the other terminal; means to return said contact arm into contact and means to retard the return motion; a pair of brushes mounted below said concentric annular rings, one brush contacting with the inside, and one with the outside ring; a wire connecting each brush with a source of electric current.

5. In an airplane landing field, the combination of a floor adapted to be mounted on a substructure; a circular track laid on said floor; a horizontal frame, provided with uprights, disposed above said track; flanged wheels mounted on said uprights and disposed so as to run on said track; a horizon tally disposed bevel ring gear secured to the underside of said frame; a pair of standards on said floor; a horizontally disposed shaft journalled in said standards and carrying abevel gear meshed with said ring gear; a platform superimposed on said frame; a series of vertically disposed electro-magnets mounted in said platform with their poles upward; a wire from said electro-magnets leading to a source of electric current; a pair of concentric annular rings mounted on the underside of said frame, each ring being provided with a Vertically disposed terminal; a contact arm pivoted on one of said terminals and adapted to contact with the other terminal; a pair of brushes mounted below said concentric annular rings, one brush contacting with the inside, and one with the outside ring; a wire connecting each brush with a source of electriccurrent.

(i. In an airplane landing field, the combination of a floor adapted to be mountedon a substructure; a circular track laid on said floor; a horizontal frame, provided with uprights, disposed above said track; flanged wheels mounted on said uprights and disposed so as to run on said track; a horizontally disposed bevel ring gear secured to the umlerside of said frame; a pair of standards on said floor; a horizontally disposed shaft journalled in said standards and carrying a bevel gear meshed with said ring gear; a pair of concentric annular rings mounted on the underside of said frame, each ring being provided with a vertically disposed terminal; a'

contact arm pivoted on one of said terminals and adapted to contact with the other terminal; a. pair of brushes mounted below said concentric annular rings, one brush contacting with the inside, and one with the outside ring; a wire connecting each brush with a source of electric current; a device to coact with said electro-magnets in said landing platform, said device comprising a bracket adapted to be attached to the fuselage of an airplane and a shoe attached to the bottom of said bracket.

7. In an airplane landing field, the combi nation of a floor adapted to be mounted on a substructure; a circular track laid on said floor; a horizontal frame, provided with uprights, disposed above said track; flanged wheels mounted on said uprights and disposed so as to run on said track; a horizontally disposed bevel ring gear secured to the underside of said frame; a pair of standards on said floor; a horizontally disposed shaft journalled in said standards and carrying a bevel gear meshed with said ring gear; a pulley mounted on said shaft; a motor; a belt mounted on said pulley and the pulley of said motor; a platform superimposed on said frame; a series of vertically disposed electromagnets mounted in said platform with their poles upward; a wire from said electromagnets leading to a source of electric current; a mat covering the poles of said magnets; :1 pair of concentric annular rings mounted on the underside of said frame, each ring being provided with a vertically disposed terminal; a contact arm pivoted on one of said terminals and adapted to contact with the other terminal; means to return said contact arm into contactand means to retard the return motion; a pair of brushes mounted below said concentric annular rings, one brush contacting with the inside. and one with the outside ring: a wire connecting each brush with a source of electric current.

8. In an airplane landing field, the combination of a floor adapted to be mounted on a substructure; a circular track laid on said floor; a horizontal frame, provided with upvertically disposed terminal; a contact arm pivoted on one of said terminals and 'adapted to contact with the other terminal; means to return said contact arm into contact and meansto retard the return motion; a pair of brushes mounted below said concentric annular rings, one brush contacting with the inside, and one with the outside ring; a wire connecting each brush with a source of electric current; a housing located beneath said frame concentric with said circular track; a series of electro-magnets arranged in a circular row within said housing, concentric with said circular track; a wire leading from each electro-magnet to a source of electric current; a circular row of pins slidably mounted in the top of said housing; a plurality of lugs arranged in a circle and depending from the top of said housing; each lug being adjacent to one of said slidably mounted pins; a lever pivoted to each lug and disposed so that one arm of said lever supports a pin and the other arm extends across the pole of the adj acent electro-magnet.

12. In an airplane landing field, the combination of a fioor adapted to be mounted on a substructure; a. circular track laid on said floor; a horizontal frame, provided with uprights, disposed above said track; flanged wheels mounted onsaid uprights and disposed so'as to run on said track; a horizontally disposed bevel ring gear secured to the underside of said frame; a pair of standards on said floor; a horizontally disposed shaft j ournalled in said standards and carrying a bevel gear meshed with said ring gear; a.

pulley mounted on said shaft; a motor; a belt mounted on said'pulley and the pulley of said motor; a platform superimposed on said frame; a series of vertically disposed electro-magnets mounted in said platform with their poles upward; a wire from said electro-magnets leading to a source of electric'current; a mat covering the poles of said magnets; a pair of concentric annular rings mounted on the underside of said frame, each ring being provided with a vertically disposed terminal; a contact arm pivoted on one of said terminals and adapted to contact with the other terminal; means to return said contact arm into contact and means to retard the return motion; a pair of brushes mounted below said concentric annular rings, one brush contacting with the inside, and one with the outside ring; a wire connecting each brush with a source of electric current; a housing located beneath said frame concentrio with said circular track; a series of electro-magnets arranged in a circular row within said housing, concentric with said circular track; a wire leading from each electro-magnet to a source of electric current; a circular row of pins slidably mounted in the top of said housing; a plurality of lugs arranged in a circle and depending from the top of said housing, each lug being adjacent to one of said slidably mounted pins; a lever pivoted to each lug and disposed so that one arm of said lever supports a pin and the other arm extends across the poleof the adjacent electro-magnet; a device to coact with said electro-magnets in said landing platform, said device comprising a bracket adapted to be attached to the fuselage of an airplane and a shoe attached to the bottom of said bracket.

13. In an airplane landing field, the combination of a floor adapted to be mounted on a substructure; a circular track laid on said floor; a horizontal frame, provided with uprights, disposed above said track; flanged wheels mounted on said uprights and disposed so as to run on said track; a horizontally disposed bevel ring gear secured to the underside of said frame; a pair of standards on said floor; a horizontally disposed shaft journalled in said standards and carrying a bevel gear meshed with said ring gear; a

pulley mounted on said shaft; a motor; a belt mounted on said pulley and the pulley of said motor; a platform superimposed on said frame; a series of vertically disposed electro-magnets mounted in said platform with their poles upward; a wire from said electro-magnets leading to a source of electric current; a device to coact with said electro-magnets in said landing platform, said device comprising a bracket adapted to be attached to the fuselage of an airplane and a shoe attached to the bottom of said bracket.

14. In an airplane landing field, the combination of a floor adapted to be mounted on a substructure; a circular track laid on said floor; a horizontal frame, provided with uprights, disposed above said track; flanged wheels mounted on said uprights and disposed so as to run on said track; a horizontally disposed bevel ring gear secured to the underside of said frame; a pair of standards on said floor; a horizontally disposed shaft journalled in said standards and carrying a bevel gear meshed with said ring gear; a platform superimposed on said frame; a series of vertically disposed electro-magnets mounted in said platform with their poles upward; a wire from said electro-magnets leading to a source of electric current; a device to coact with said electro-magnets in said landing platform, said device comprising a bracket adapted to be attached to the fuselage of an airplane and a shoe attached to the bottom of said bracket; a shaft mounted in one end of said bracket; a yoke, carrying a wheel, keyed on said shaft; a. lever keyed on said shaft; means to operate said lever, mounted on said fuselage.

15. In an airplane landing field, the combination of a circular housing; a circular row of vertically disposed electro-magnets disposed in said housing; lugs depending from the top of said housing; a lever pivoted on each lug so that one arm can be attracted by the ad acent electro-magnet; a circular row of pins slidably mounted in the top of said housing, each pin resting on the arm of one of said pivoted levers; a base disposed at a distance from said circular track; a shaft mounted vertically in said base; a housing rotatably mounted on said vertical shaft and carrying a Weather vane; a solid ring disposed on said base; a Wire connecting said solid ring to a source of electric current; a plurality of segmental plates disposed on said base so as to surround said solid ring; a Wire leading from each segmental plate to an electro-Inagnet in said circular row of magnets; a brush mounted in said rotatably mounted housing and contacting with said segmental plates and said solid ring. YOSMITE NABONA. WILLIAM B. CHAPMAN. 

